1. SLEAZE (NOUN): grime, impurity
Synonyms: muck, stain Antonyms: morality, purity
Example Sentence:
He need spend no time dialing for dollars with all the sleaze and risk involved.
2. IMPENDING (ADJECTIVE): forthcoming
Synonyms: imminent, looming Antonyms: distant, later
Example Sentence:
Now that they are divorcing, here are a few things that have been reported about the impending split of Hollywood’s star couple.
3. SMOLDER (VERB): burn, simmer
Synonyms: explode, fester Antonyms: be happy, freeze
Example Sentence:
Nevertheless, it continues to smolder away in Chicago, posing a potential threat to the Obama administration.
4. CONTRETEMPS (NOUN): awkward
Synonyms: disaster, misfortune Antonyms: blessing, triumph
Example Sentence:
But the Web contretemps has had an impact all the same, particularly on the political right.
5. INCOGNITO (ADJECTIVE): in disguise
Synonyms: anonymous, concealed Antonyms: known, unhidden
Example Sentence:
He wants to remain incognito, he’s going to be twice as cautious.
6. DIVARICATION (NOUN): difference
Synonyms: contrast, disparity Antonyms: agreement, uniformity
Example Sentence:
Another key finding was the divarication of expectations between the amount of time it should take to get a raise or promotion.
7. BANAUSIC (ADJECTIVE): dull, lifeless
Synonyms: boring, monotone Antonyms: exciting, spirited
Example Sentence:
It seemed like the highest sophistication—good, grownup humor—yet still not banausic for a 15-year-old girl.
8. VANILLA (NOUN): simple, unadorned
Synonyms: plain, rustic Antonyms: pretty, uncommon
Example Sentence:
People called neighborhoods like mine “vanilla suburbs,” and downtown Washington “chocolate city.”
9. CHASM (NOUN): gap, abyss
Synonyms: gorge, rift Antonyms: closure, solid
Example Sentence:
A huge rock, falling from above, boomed past me, struck the path, and bounced over into the chasm.
10. CATECHUMEN (NOUN): person unskilled in something
Synonyms: novice, newcomer Antonyms: expert, professional
Example Sentence:
Since this is my daughter’s first swim lesson, she is definitely a catechumen in the sport.